IAGenWeb
Notes:
Use this slide to set up the projector and leave it on while people gather.
You can do an introduction and when you are ready click to go to the next slide.
Part of a Bigger Picture
An all volunteer project committed to
free Internet access to genealogical information
Say something like this:
The IAGenWeb is part of the USGenWeb Project, a group of volunteers working
together to provide Internet websites for genealogical research in every county and
every state of the United States. The Project is non-commercial and fully committed to
free access for everyone.
Name each part of the project but don’t go into a lot of detail because the program will
show parts of all these except for the World GenWeb.
If you want this picture to show YOUR county, send an e-mail to Barbara Hug at
bhug@prairieinet.net and she will redo this graphic and send back to you if you give her
more than a day’s notice.
IAGenWeb
Ninety-nine County Sites
Iowa is one of the best in the Country because when Iowa organized in 1977, our
leadership set up some basic requirements.
These requirements:
1. A search engine for the site.
2. The addition of random data at least every 6 months. Such things as obituaries,
births, deaths, etc. that are not complete.
3. The addition of transcribed data at least every year. A complete set of data such
as all obits from the 1910 Newspaper or all births in 1890 or all marriages in
1900.
4. Timely communication with visitors to the site.
Our Name
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Gen
Web
US
IA
IAGenWeb
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Genealogy
Web site
United States
Iowa
Iowa Genealogy on the Web
Can always tell a FREE GenWeb site
NEGenWeb
SDGenWeb MNGenWeb
Not all people understands our name and have a hard time remembering it; you might
want to use this explanation.
Just go through each one and then have them tell you the other two state. You could
add others if you want.
County Coordinator
• The title of the person responsible for a
county page.
• Duties vary from state to state.
• Some states don’t have much information.
• Iowa has “requirements” that results in a
richer source of information.
• Twice-yearly reviews.
Talk about your own experience or use your own words to tell the audience what you
want. You don’t need go into a lot of detail here as you do that as you explain each
component of the site – ie: when showing the GPP site, talk about the CC’s
responsibility in approving all of the photos, etc.
GenWeb Special Features
Iowa Genealogy Boards
Iowa Special Projects
USGenWeb Special Projects
This is just an introductory slide to let people know that these are the next three topics
you’ll talk about.
IAGenWeb Boards
Researchers can enter their own data
These are the icons for the IAGenWeb Boards. At this point just name the icons and
briefly tell what kinds of material goes with each icon.
Stress that this is the opportunity for genealogists to enter their own data about their
family or about the community in which they live.
You’ll go through the HOW to submit later on.
IAGenWeb Special Projects
Again, just mention each of the Special projects and the kinds of information you can
get or add to it. Look on the special projects page on the IAGenWeb state site to get a
brief description of each project.
You might want to mention that researchers can contribute to each of these projects.
USGenWeb Special Project
Iowa Related
National
And More
These are the USGenWeb Special Projects
Archives: The USGenWeb Digital Library for Iowa was developed to provide free on
line data for genealogical research.
The Archives was set up before a lot of the counties had on-line data. In Iowa most, not
all, of the data is on the county sites. But in other states this is the place to look.
As with all other information found on GenWeb sites, these archives are dependent on
volunteers to donate their time by transcribing public domain records or other noncopyrighted primary sources.
Tombstone Project: Again this was set up before many of the county sites put
cemetery lists on their sites. Today most Iowa counties have extensive cemetery listings
on the county sites. But you can always check here for information, especially in other
states.
Other USGenWeb Projects:
I selected the Family Group Sheets, the kids site and penny postcards as a variety. You
can pick out other that might be more appropriate for the people you are talking to.
County Site is Heart of Project
Since we’ve been talking about the special projects, we need to emphasize that even
though the special projects are helpful, the county site is the heart of the whole project.
You might also say that as of January 12, 2007 there were:
77 volunteers who serve as County Coordinators and
13 volunteers who serve as Assistant County Coordinators
Our volunteers spend any where from 1 to 10 hours per week (or more) on their county
site.
IaGenWeb.org
Use this graphic if you want to discuss the IAGenWeb as a whole.
Point out the topics at the top of the page and the menu along the left side.
You might mention that the state does have an elected leadership team that changes
each year.
Make a graphic own county page or use this one as an example.
To get a photo of your page:
1. Open the page in your browser, close as many of the tool bars as possible – I
usually leave in the address and menu tool bars.
2. Locate the “Print Screen” key on your keyboard and press – usually top row next
to the F12 and/or Scroll Lock.
3. Open a graphics program like Paint Shop Pro and paste the image as a new
image. Then crop or resize. (if you don’t have a graphics program that will accept
a new image, write to Barbara Hug at bhug@prairieinet.net and she’ll do it for
you and send back to you.
Talk in general about the county site and point out some of the features you are
especially proud of.
You can make additional graphics of your site by using the above instructions.
How Can You Participate?
• Contribute material to the boards –
searchable state wide.
• Contribute material to the GPP –
searchable state wide.
Join our Team
• Transcribe historical materials or vital
records.
• Become a County Coordinator or an
assistant
Talk about ways that volunteers can assist. Change or add any point here that you
want. Perhaps there is a special project you are working on that you want to advertise.
Use the following slides to show how to contribute.
Contribute to the Boards
Search for a name
To Post
Show the various parts to this screen. The fact that you can enter Queries, Obituaries,
Biographies and Documents – news items, wills, etc.
You can point out that this site has 485 obituaries on site. Tell the group how many
obituaries, queries, biographies and/or documents you have your county site.
Point out the box where you put in a Surname to search.
Also point out they can choose to select just the Surname or the Surname and or other
words in the text part of the message. [In case you can’t find that option, look just above
the Search for windows.
Point out the link to the Posting option. I have no idea what “Unsubscribe” means and
the Search All Counties is been disconnected for the present.
Add a link to a
biography, photo, etc.
This feature is to
prevent spam on the
boards.
Click to post or preview
Use this graphic to show people how easy it is to submit an obituary.
They can either type the obituary in the box or type it in word processor and then copy
and paste into the box.
Suggest they leave a space between paragraphs so it the obit is easier to read.
Explain each of the other features that are highlighted.
Explain that the Biography, Document and Query boards work in the same manner.
Contribute to the Gravestone Photo Project
The Gravestone Photo Project (GPP) is done in a different way from the other projects
so it is shown here.
Iowa Gravestone Photo Project History
The "Gravestone Photo Project" or "GPP" was first undertaken as a single county
gravestone photo archive. Originating as an IAGenWeb Special Project in January
2003, it has grown to include separate repositories in over a dozen states -- and is now
believed to be the largest gravestone photo repository in the world.
On this graphic point out that the researcher can:
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select the county you wish to search OR the whole state

search for a Surname, First Name or a Cemetery

search for a name that starts with, sounds like or contains
This is the first page in the Submit a Photo.
Talk about the photo submission tips.
Add to these tips:
1. Clean of stone. Bird droppings aren’t a very nice way to remember your
ancestors. Also brush off loose grass and pull away weeds and grass around the
stone.
2. If the engravings on the stone don’t show up very well, spray water on the stone
as the water darkens the stone allowing the engravings to stand out just a little
more.
a. DO use any chemicals on the stone to make engraving stand out as
chemicals damage the stone.
b. NEVER use chalk, flour or other products to mark the stone to show the
engraving.
c. Write down the engraving to add to the Comment Section of the photo
submission form.
3. Watch the reflections in the tombstone – your feet, etc. – The next graphic will
show a neighborhood dog that just happened to be in the cemetery when the
photo was taken.
Submit Gravestone Photos
This graphic shows the Submit page.
Go through each part of the submission
Encourage people to enter information in the Comments box.
Point out that this is a POOR photo to submit because the image of the dog walking
around in the cemetery shows up in the tombstone. Peoples feet and bodies and
shadows often show up on photos like this. SO be careful when taking the photo.
Add Post-em Notes to Photos
Us this graphic to show how to add a post-em note to an existing gravestone photo.
This is a new feature of the Gravestone Photo Project.
Join Our Team
Location of the Join Our Team link on the state page.
These are the ways volunteers can contribute.
Talk about any or all of these as you have the time for and what seems to best fit the
audience.
County Pages
Point out that this page gives the names and links to all the Iowa counties.
The side menu gives links to a state-wide map, the names of the county coordinators by
surname and by county the serve.
Complete the Form to Volunteer
This is a graphic of the volunteer form to complete.
Society – GenWeb Cooperation
• This is not a competition of who can do what.
• Funds can be raised locally by offering your
local research services on line – reach a lot of
people.
• County Coordinator can refer queries to local
genealogical society. A “win-win” situation!
• Cooperation is the best way to help people
research their families.
In some counties there is a distrust between the county genealogical society and the
GenWeb project.
This distrust seems to be monetary: traditionally the local society has made money by
selling books of vital records, obituaries, histories, etc. Obviously if the availability of
online information cuts into their profits.
Many counties have found that the request for research and copying original documents
has actually been more profitable than the sales the might have lost.
Suggest that local societies use different ways to add to their revenues than selling
books: ie: Have a listing of probates on line with the local society providing the service
of copying the probate record; putting flowers on ancestors graves – think outside the
traditional box.
Use the Internet to the advantage of both groups.
Iowa Sunset
Grandma concluded her prayer, “we are the bridge for those who come after us.
Let’s all work together to become that ‘bridge’ for today’s generation and the next!”
Photo and quote by Linda Ziemann, Sioux Co. CC
Use this or another graphic to summarize your presentation and to say goodby.